Winter break: No soccer

By Ed Piper

Once again, we're in our winter of discontent. During the holiday break, our skilled soccer teams have gone dark, as is their annual custom.

I went by La Jolla High Mon., Dec. 18, the first day of winter break--forgetting, with my subbing in the Poway and San Dieguito districts, which are still in session, that City Schools are out this week--and found almost no one to home.

Soccer field: No practice. I peaked in the gate.

So I walked into Coggan Pool, fortunately, to find Coach Amy Jennings on deck and her varsity water polo players just coming out for an afternoon practice.

Jennings was aware of the differing winter schedules between Poway/San Dieguito, off Dec. 25-Jan. 5, and San Diego Unified, lights out a week earlier and coming back Jan. 3.

"That's why we scheduled games against Rancho Bernardo (Tues., Dec. 19) and Westview (Fri., Dec. 22), said the head coach. "We knew they were still in session."

But our dynamic soccer players are off the pitch, even out of town. That's what boys assistant Victor Zendejas told me when I called him.

"Victor, do you practice today? Or did you already practice this morning?" I asked him, my disappointment about to be realized.

"No, we played Thursday and Friday (Dec. 14-15), then we're off for two weeks," he cheerily informed me. His cheer was due to the fact the Viking boys tied La Costa Canyon, a Division 1 power, then defeated Mission Bay in a cliffhanger.

Why don't you guys compete in tournaments during the Christmas break? I asked him.

"The players go out of town," Zendejas said. "They're not around."

So, anyone trying to get their sports fix will have to stick to the boys basketball team--tournament play before Christmas--and the girls basketball team--tournament play after Christmas Day.

It's a good fix, with the boys program hosting the Grossmont Classic and a full slate of games, three JV contests followed by three varsity games.

This is the first time boys basketball has hosted a tournament in my 14 years covering La Jolla High sports. It's great to be able to show up to the gym and hang out with other basketball enthusiasts while watching game action. It's kind of like going to the beach and watching the waves break: the action is continuous, and it is soothing to the soul.

After December 25, Coach Darice Carnaje's girls enter tournament play. Then, I and other basketball enthusiasts also take in games at the Under Armour Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines High. That is a nation-talent banquet. What a treat.